Barcelona will stay in F1 despite Madrid joining next year

While Barcelona technically has a contract to host a Formula 1 race next season, this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix is being treated as a circuit swansong by many with Madrid set to join the calendar from 2026.

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has played host to the Spanish Grand Prix since relocating from Jerez in 1991 and has become a firm favourite for teams, which have racked up hours of testing time around its 14 corners.

However, with F1 bosses pushing for more investment in infrastructure and traffic management, in particular, falling on deaf ears, they have elected to sign up Madrid instead. Spain’s capital is set to host a street circuit race around the ‘Madring’ from next season.

Not since 1981 has Madrid been a destination on the F1 calendar. The new circuit has signed a deal until 2035 – and it is due to come into effect from next year, when Barcelona is still also slated to host a race.

It is unlikely, given the packed schedule and nations queuing up for a race, that both Spanish cities will stage grands prix in the same year. But unlike Imola, which hosted its last race for the foreseeable future a fortnight ago, two key drivers seem to be more keen to remain in Catalonia.

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has twice won his home race and maintains that Barcelona will keep its place.

“I don’t think that we will lose Barcelona. So that’s my opinion and my wish as well,” the Aston Martin driver said.

“I think it’s good to have new venues. It’s good to have new countries as well that Formula 1 has moved to in the last decade. But at the same time, we need to keep some traditional circuits where the history of Formula 1 has been written and made.

“And I think Formula 1 and Barcelona are very [closely] linked. We’ve been testing here for decades. I think all the teams choose Barcelona when they have to choose one test track. We come back here next year in winter because we have new regulations, new cars – and once again, the teams chose Barcelona because it’s the Formula 1 track in a way.

“And I think the circuit has made some changes to bring it up to Formula 1 standards. So in the last two or three years, all the paddock facilities, the grandstands, everything has taken a new level. Barcelona has been here for the last two or three decades, and Barcelona will be here for the next 10, 20, 30, 40 years.

“And some of the venues will be just momentarily on the calendar and then probably they will disappear again. So, we cannot lose Barcelona.”

Reigning world champion Max Verstappen is one of only two drivers to win in Barcelona in the past nine years and took his maiden F1 win there in his first race for Red Bull in 2016. He believes it would be a shame to see the race drop off the calendar.

“I think for F1 in general, it would be a bit of a loss, of course, if this track goes. Especially, I think, for the drivers. But I think even the fan experience is nice,” he said.

Preparing for the ‘Madring’

The Madring layout

Organisers confirmed last week that the 2026 F1 Spanish Grand Prix will be held over 57 laps of the 5.4-kilometre, 22-turn Madring circuit, having also presented an onboard lap of the digital version.

The Madring circuit, with numerous nods to the history of Madrid and Spain, will start with a 589-metre straight, the second longest of the entire layout. From the start line there will be a 202-metre sprint to Turn 1, but in racing conditions Turns 1 and 2 are expected to yield some overtaking opportunities as cars slow down from 320km/h to 100km/h for the first chicane.

Carlos Sainz was born in Madrid and has become an ambassador for the new race so there was no surprise when he spoke of his excitement and how he believes the race will be a “success” in his hometown.

“They made me ambassador for the Grand Prix, and I’m going to try to support the circuit, the community, and make it the best it can be.

“I’m really looking forward to it because I believe Madrid has huge potential as a city, and I think more and more people around the world are realising how lucky we are to have a city like Madrid. I believe it’s going to be a success.”